Catalyst holder



July 20, 1965 E. s. ROBERTS ETAL 3,195,988

CATALYST HOLDER med May 11, 1962 INVENTORS EDWARD s. ROBERTS a MICHAEL J. KALoUs their ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,195,988 CATALYST HLDER Edward S. Roberts, Ridgewood, NX., and Michael l. Kalous, Niagara Falls, ntario, Canada; Michael L. Feuer, executor of the estate of said Michael J. Kalous, deceased, assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, to Pullman Incorporated, a corporation o Delaware Filed May 11, 1962, Ser. No. 194,915 3 Qiaims. (Cl. 23--2S) The present invention relates to catalyst holders, more particularly to catalyst holders `for use in gaseous ammonia reactors.

The eiticiency of processes using catalysts sometimes depends on the length of time the chemicals used in the process contact the catalyst. For instance, in the manufacture of nitric acid from the oxidation of ammonia gas with air in contact with a platinum gauze catalyst, the ammonia may oxidize according to either of the following equations:

lf the length of time which the ammonia air mixture contacts the platinum is correct, then nitric oxide is produced according toFormula No. 1. It the length of time is too short, then some of the .ammonia passes through the gauze without being oxidized. I'f the contact time is too long, then the nitric oxide lirst formed is decomposed to nitrogen and water in accordance with reaction No. 2.

The total .time of contact between the ammonia and the gauze depends on the volumetric rate of iiow of the arnmonia-air mixture and the volume of the mixture in contact with the platinum catalyst at any given time. Usually, in ammonia reactors a number of the catalyst ganzes e are placed one on top of the other and the ammonia is passed through them at right angles to their planar surfaces. Therefore, with constant temperature and pressure conditions, the volumetric liow perpendicular to the surface of the gauzes may be computed to give the proper contact time. However, all dow is not perpendicular to the surface of the gauzes. A small portion of the am- -monia-air mixture flows through the gauzes parallel to their surfaces toward their perimeter in passages formed by the weave of the gauze. This leaves the mixture 4in contact with the catalyst much longer than required for the proper conversion of ammonia to nitric oxide.

In accordance with the present invention, a new type of catalyst holder or basket is provided for limiting the flow parallel with the surfaces of the ganzes. This holder also permits expeditious replacement of the catalyst to limit the down time on the reactor.

Generally speaking the catalyst holder comprises a disc with a circular opening having a finite cylindrical sidewall extending from the dise. When the ammonia air mixture is introduced into the reactor it passes through this opening to contact gauzes held across the opening, against the bottom edge of the cylindrical sidewall by an inwardly extending ange on a second finite cylindrical wall, concentrically located around the exterior of the sidewall of the hole. Securing means .are provided for compressing the edges of catalyst ganzes between the inwardly extending llange of the second wall and the bottom edge of the rst wall. Such securing means can be bolts which are attached to the inwardly hanged wall and passed through openings in the disc where they are clamped by spring loaded nuts. To adjust the distance between the edge of the sidewall ofthe hole and the flange of the exterior wall the bolts may be loosened or tightened. 'lightening the bolts will draw the ange closer to the bottom edge of the sidewall to securely clamp the edges of the ganzes between the liange and the bottom ICC edge of the sidewall and thus cut olf the edge through the ganzes.

T he diameters of the two cylindrical walls are such that there is an annular space lbetween them. This annular space is stuted with asbestos or similar packing and a compression ring is inserted into the .annular space in contact with the asbestos. Sleeves are placed on certain bolts through the openings in the disc which relieve the pressure of the spring loaded ybolts on the disc and transmit it to the compression ring, thereby jamming the compression ring into the annular opening so that the edges of the cylinder; the inwardly extending flange and the asbestos stufring form an air tight seal around the edge of the ganzes.

With the spring loaded nuts screwed tight, the catalyst holder, with the catalyst in it, is in the form of a single unit .which may be easily removed from the ammonia reactor and replaced with a :spare holder, containing fresh catalyst ganzes. This cuts the down time on the reactor since the catalyst is placed in the spare holder while the reactor is operating with the original holder. As shown in the drawing the edge of 4the disc portion of the catalyst holder is placed ou a base portion of the reactor with a cover portion of the reactor placed on the edge of the disc. With this arrangement, ,all that is necessary to replace the catalyst is to remove the cover, lift up the holder, replace it with the spare holder and recover the reactor.

The basket is especially useful in the system disclosed in our Patent No. 2,955,917 where the reaction is conducted under pressure. Generally speaking as the pressure at which the reaction is conducted is increased the losses incurred by radial dow become more pronounced.

Though the catalyst holder of the present invention is illustrated and described as being used in producing nitric oxide by the oxidation of gaseous ammonia, the holder has application Ain other reactions. For instance, it may be used to make hydrogen cyanide when the oxidation of ammonia takes place in the presence of hydrocarbon gas in accordance with the following reaction:

These and other advantages of the structure of the present invention will be readily understood by accompanying drawings wherein:

FlG. l is a sectional view of an ammonia reactor, and

FIG. 2 is a View along line 2 2 in FIG. 1.

Referring to the figures, it may be seen that the ammonia reactor has a cylindrical base portion 2 and a conical cover 4 aligned along a common axis A-A. The upper edge 6 of the base 2 is anged outwardly and a plate or flange 8 is seated upon this flange 10. The cover 4 rests atop this plate S on a flange 12 running around its base 14.

The plate d has a circular hole 16 through it which is centered along the axis A-A. The top of the cone 18 is truncated and the bottom of the base 2 is open so that the ammonia air mixture may be introduced through the opening atop the cone and passed through the reactor at right angles to the surface of the plate 8.

A cylindrical wall 2li depends from the plate 8 around the periphery 22 of the hole. The bottoni edge 24 of the cylinder Z@ is bent outwardly and upwardly to form a cylindrical lip 25 running around the exterior of the interior wall 2i). A hanged wall 23 is positioned to surround this lip 25 to form an annular channel 30 running around the exterior of the wail 2o. The flange 32 of this wall extends inwardly to the interior surface of the depending wall Z9.

A number of platinum ganzes 34 are placed between the top surface 3o of the flange 32 and the bottom edge radial paths through Patented July 20, `'1965 24 of the depending wall opening 16 in the path of the ammonia mixture how. A ridge 3S is provided around the top of the flange 32 to, support the tips dll of a number of nichrorne bars 42. Across the tops of these bars 42 are a number of nichrome supports 445 for supporting the platinum ganzes 34 in the opening T6.

Asbestos stuifng or packing 4d is placed in the annular space 30 around the interior of the depending wall 2@ to prevent flow of the ammonia mixture around the periphery of the ganzes. This asbestos is crammed into the annular space by a stufling ring 48 with an externally extending tlange 5d tosecure a good seal.

" For assembling the Various components of the holder a number of bolts 52 are attached to the inwardly flanged wall 28 at regular intervals around its exterior surface, These bolts extend through holes 54 in the ange Si? and holes S6 in the plate S. Sleeves 5S which pass through the holes 56 in the plate 8 to-contact the flange 5t) of the stufng ring 4S are placed on alternate bolts 52a. The washer dil is then slipped down around each bolt and spring 62 is compressed between the washer 6@ and a nut 6,4 which is tightened on a threaded portion of the bolt 52. The nuts 64 are tightened so that the springs 62 press against theiwasher 60. In the case where there is a sleeve 58 on the bolt 52 the force of the spring 62 is transmitted to the sleeve which presses the compression ring 4S into the asbestos packing 46 jamming it into the annular space 3G around the interior wall 2d. Where there is no sleeve on the bolt, the washer 66B presses against the top surface of the plate 8. This adjusts the clearance between the top surface 36 of the ange 32 and the bottom surface 2d of the wall 20 compressing the edges o the gauze 34 to eliminate radial paths between the outer edge and the center of the gauze.

It will be noticed that the springs 62 are located in a zone where the temperature is relatively low so their elasticity is not affected. lin addition a cover 66 is placed over the springs and bolts atop the plate to prevent leakage through the holes 56 in plate 8. The use of the spring is important because it nullies the thermal expansion of the bolts 62 and 52a which would otherwise reduce the pressure on the stutlng in the annular groove and on the rim of the platinum ganzes.

To replace the catalyst all that has to be done is to remove the reactor cover 4 and lift the plate 8 by its edge. With the nuts 64 tightened down, the assembly consisting of the plate 5, the wall 2S and the stuffing ring i8 move as a unit. A second similar unit with the nuts properly tightened to prevent radial flow may then be inserted in its place and the top replaced with a minimum of effort and time.

It will be understood that it is intended to cover all changes and modiiications in the described form of structure herein chosen for the purpose of illustration which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Y What is claimed is:

1. A catalyst basket for use in a gaseous ammonia reactor comprising Ztl so as to extend across theV (a) a lirst wall defining an opening through which the reactants pass, saidfirst wall having a bottom edge,

(b) a-second wall lsurrounding and spaced from said tiret wall dening a channel therebetween, said channel being stuited with packing to provide an air tight seal,

(c) means for holding said packing in compression in said channel, l

(d) a flange attached t0 said second wall extending at least part way under said bottom edge of said iirst wall, i

(e) catalyst ganzes positioned across said opening with their edges positioned between said flange and said bottom edge of said rst wall,

(f) securing means for compressing the edges of said catalyst ganzes,

(g) means coupled with said first-mentioned means for keeping said packing under compression notwithstanding temperature change, and

(h) vmeans coupled with said securing means for keeping said edges of said catalyst gauzes under compression notwithstanding temperature change.

2. A catalyst basket according to claim 1 in which said means for holding said packing in compression in said channel and said means coupled therewith comprise (a) a stuting ring disposed in said channel in Vcontact with 'said packing,

(b) bolts attached to said second wall extending through said stuffing ring,

(c) resilient means mounted on said bolts, and y (d) nuts on said bolts which transmit force through said resilient means to said stuffing ring and in turn to said packing.

3. A catalyst basket according to claim l in which said securing means and said means coupled therewith comprise (a) a ange attached to said rst wall,

(b) bolts attached to said second wall extending through said ange attached to said first wall,

(c) resilient means mounted on said bolts, and

(d) nuts on `said bolts which transmit force through said resilient means to said walls and thereby lsecure the edges of said catalyst ganzes between the fange attached to said second Wall and said bottom edge of said iirst wall.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,139,225 5/15 Pursselley 151-40 2,127,529 8/38 Prickett 23-288 2,156,422 5/39 Baader 23-288 2,607,663 8/52 Perry Vet al. 23-288 3,033,658 5/6-2 Gross et al. 23-288 MORRIS O. W OLK, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE D. MITCHELL, Examiner. 

1. A CATALYST BASKET FOR USE IN A GASEOUS AMMONIA REACTOR COMPRISING (A) A FIRST WALL DEFINING AN OPENING THROUGH WHICH THE REACTANTS PASS, SAID FIRST WALL HAVING A BOTTOM EDGE, (B) A SECOND WALL SURROUNDING AND SPACED FROM SAID FIRST WALL DEFINING A CHANNEL THEREBETWEEN, SAID CHANNEL BEING STUFFED WITH PACKING TO PROVIDE AN AIR TIGHT SEAL, (C) MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID PACKING IN COMPRESSION IN SAID CHANNEL, (D) A FLANGE ATTACHED TO SAID SECOND WALL EXTENDING AT LEAST PART WAY UNDER SAID BOTTOM EDGE OF SAID FIRST WALL, 